A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). If you require further information, regardingthis report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA Website: www.ontario.ca/omafra
MOST OF THE CORN IS IN, NOW TO SOYBEANS…OMAFRA – from OMAFRA Field Crop Report
Corn: Greg Stewart
Corn planting is 95 % complete across the province. Emergence is good to excellent in most areas with the majority of the corn in the 1-3 leaf stage. Weed control should be the priority as the crop approaches the critical 3-4 leaf stage. Cutworm injury has been reported in some areas south of London. Scout fields that had significant weed growth before planting. Guidelines for post-emerge UAN application: 1) UAN (fan nozzle) and herbicide – max. 2 leaf corn, 2) UAN (fan nozzle) no herbicide – max. 3 leaf corn, 3) UAN (streamer nozzle) – max. 6 leaf corn. Loss of N through volatilization will be greater if surface applied UAN does not receive rainfall to incorporate into the soil. Possible strategies are: 1) delay application until rainfall is more likely, 2) apply additional N (15%) to compensate for losses, 3) add a urease inhibitor (i.e. Agrotain) to reduce volatilization losses or 4) switch application strategies to sidedress injection.
Cereals: Peter Johnson/Scott Banks
Winter cereals are far ahead of normal development. Rye and barley are in full head, advanced wheat fields are at head emergence. Combines need to be ready to harvest two weeks earlier than ever before. Dry weather and low fusarium risk has some growers questioning the need for fusarium control. Remember that the fusarium fungicides Caramba and Prosaro give foliar leaf disease control and improve straw yields and quality, along with reduced fusarium and DON concentrations in the grain. Leaf disease pressure remains low with some powdery mildew pressure. Aphid populations are building in wheat fields along the Lake Erie shoreline. Scout!
Spring cereals continue to progress with early fields at first node (GS 31). Many producers are waiting to apply herbicides to get more value from the fungicide application. Early fungicides have little yield impact in spring cereals. If weed pressure is significant, or grass weeds are an issue, this decision may cost growers in lost yield potential.
Soybeans: Horst Bohner
Fifty to sixty per cent of the crop is now seeded. Some producers are finished. Very early planted beans have emerged. Under cool conditions it can take 30 days for beans to emerge. In warm temperatures beans can emerge in 4 to 7 days. Crusting has been a problem in a few areas, but not a significant problem so far. If fields were not rolled right after seeding, make sure to check how much growth there is on the seedling before rolling. Beans should not be rolled during the hook stage of emergence. If the beans are close to emergence wait for the unifoliate stage before rolling.
GROWING YOUR FARM PROFITS
by John C. Benham
Have you ever wished you had better computer training or bookkeeping instruction and more sound financial management of your farm business? Well, on Tuesday, June 5, there is an opportunity to learn more about these concerns. The workshop will be completed on Tuesday, June 19 and will be held in the Elora OMAFRA meeting room, 9:30am to 3:00pm. Lunch and refreshments provided. Many other subjects important to your farm business management will be discussed. You will not be required to discuss anything about your own business, but it will be an opportunity to learn from other farmers how they handled various situations. We keep hearing good comments about these workshops.
Pre-registration is required. You may register online at: www.ontariosoilcrop.org/workshops or call Liz at 519-367-5587. Don’t delay as this workshop is filling up quickly.
COMING EVENTS
June 5 – Wellington Federation of Agriculture, monthly board meeting at OMAFRA Boardroom, Elora at 7:30pm. For information, contact Lisa Hern at 519-848-3774 or email: jplh@golden.net.
June 6 – National Farmers Union Waterloo-Wellington Local, monthly board meeting at 7:15pm at the Husky Farm Equipment, Alma. (They meet every first Wednesday of the month).
June 7 – Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (CAFA) – Ontario Provincial Conference, Quality Inn, Woodstock. Details available at: www.cafanet.com.
June 9 – 17th Annual Children’s Farm Safety Day for Waterloo Region from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Event will be held rain or shine in Woolwich Township at: Dennis & Helen Martin, 1220 Lundy Rd., RR#1, West Montrose. Registration by Friday, June 1st. For more information, contact Lois 519-696-2667 or check the website: www.waterlooruralwomen.org.
June 19 & 20 – Ontario Pork Congress. Mark your calendar; check website: http://www.porkcongress.on.ca/.
June 24 – Local Food Fest – a celebration of local food and copies of the 2012 local food map available at Ignatius Jesuit Centre with children’s area, workshops and more. Visit the website at: www.guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca.
July 4 & 5 – SouthWest Crop Diagnostic Day, Univ. of Guelph, Ridgetown, 8:15 a.m. Check the website: http://www.diagnosticdays.ca/.
July 12 – FarmSmart Expo, University of Guelph, Elora Research Station, Elora. Watch for details at: http://www.uoguelph.ca/farmsmart/.
July 13 – FarmSmart Expo Youth Day at the University of Guelph, Elora Research Station at 8:45am. Check the website: www.uoguelph.ca/farmsmart/.
July 23-27 – 4-H Conference Career Sen$e; Application Deadline: June 11th, Guelph. See website for details: http://www.4-hontario.ca/youth/opportunities/conferences/default.aspx.
